This document is a comprehensive "Use & Care" manual for a Frigidaire dishwasher, providing detailed instructions for its operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. The dishwasher is designed to efficiently clean dishes using a combination of hot water and detergent, circulated through spray arms. It incorporates a "Direct Feed Wash System" with energy-efficient motors for both washing and draining, resulting in quieter operation compared to older models. The cleaning process involves multiple steps: an initial drain to remove loose soils, filling with water to cover the filter area, pumping water through spray arms, and then draining soil particles through the filter. This sequence is repeated as needed, with the number of water fills varying based on the selected cycle.
Function Description
The Frigidaire dishwasher offers various wash cycles and options to accommodate different soil levels and user preferences. Key cycles include:
- Heavy Wash: Designed for heavily soiled items like pots, pans, casseroles, and dinnerware with dried-on or baked-on soils. It uses a surge wash pressure, high temperature, and heated dry by default, with options for sanitize and air dry.
- Normal Wash: Suitable for regularly soiled dishes and silverware. Its default settings include surge wash pressure, normal temperature, and heated dry, with options for spray wash pressure, high temperature, sanitize, and air dry. This cycle is recommended for everyday use due to its balanced performance.
- China Crystal: For lightly soiled china and crystal, defaulting to spray wash pressure, normal temperature, and heated dry. No additional options are available for this cycle.
- Energy Saver: Intended for lightly soiled, pre-rinsed dishes and silverware. It defaults to surge wash pressure, normal temperature, and air dry, with an option for spray wash pressure.
- Rinse Only: A quick cycle for rinsing dishes that will be washed later, using surge wash pressure by default with no additional options.
The dishwasher utilizes DishSense™ Technology to detect the amount of food on dishes and automatically adjust the cycle length for optimal cleaning.
Usage Features
The dishwasher's control panel includes pads for selecting cycles and options, and a status window that displays information such as delay start hours, remaining cycle minutes, and rinse aid level.
- Starting a Cycle: After loading dishes, adding detergent, and rinse aid (if needed), users select the desired CYCLE and OPTION. To start, the START/CANCEL pad is pressed, and the door must be closed immediately. A tone confirms the cycle has started. The dishwasher remembers the last selected cycle and options, allowing for a quick start by simply pressing START/CANCEL if the same settings are desired.
- Wash Pressure Options: The programmed cycles default to a "surge" wash pressure, which varies optimally for the cycle's intended normal use. A "spray" option is available for a very low spray.
- Wash Temp Options: The default temperature is "normal." Users can select "HI-TEMP" or "SANITIZE" by pressing the WASH TEMP pad.
- Hi-Temp Wash: Heats water in the main wash to approximately 140°F (60°C) and increases the final rinse temperature to aid drying. This option enhances detergent effectiveness and drying performance.
- Sanitize Option: Raises the final rinse water temperature to 155°F (68°C) and maintains it for 9 minutes, meeting NSF requirements. This option is available in Heavy and Normal Cycles. The cycle time extends until the proper temperature is reached.
- Drying Options:
- Heat Dry: Enhances drying performance, available on all cycles.
- Air Dry: Reduces the hot rinse temperature, slightly decreasing energy usage but potentially increasing drying time.
- Delay Start: Allows users to delay the start of a cycle from 1 to 24 hours. The desired delay time is set using the DELAY START pad, and the countdown begins after pressing START/CANCEL and closing the door.
- Child Lock Controls: To prevent accidental changes or starts, the controls can be locked by pressing the DELAY START pad until "loc" appears in the status window. Pressing it again unlocks the controls.
- Cancelling a Cycle/Delay Start: Both running cycles and delay countdowns can be cancelled by opening the door, pressing START/CANCEL, and hearing a tone.
- Opening the Door During Cycle: If the door is opened during a cycle or delay, the dishwasher pauses. To resume, press START/CANCEL and close the door immediately.
- Status Indicator Lights: A "CLEAN" light illuminates after the door is opened. If the SANITIZE option was selected and met its criteria, a "Sanitized" indicator will also display.
Loading Dishes:
The manual provides detailed guidance on loading the upper rack, lower rack, and silverware basket for optimal cleaning and to prevent damage.
- Dish Preparation: Large food pieces, bones, and pits should be scraped away. Burned-on foods should be loosened. Liquids should be emptied from glasses. Pre-rinsing or using the "Rinse Only" cycle is recommended if the dishwasher won't be run immediately, especially for foods that can cause discoloration.
- Upper Rack: Designed for a variety of items including cups, glasses, stemware, small plates, and bowls. Glasses and plastic items should be placed in the upper rack only, with open ends facing down. Long-handled knives and utensils can also be placed here. Care should be taken to prevent delicate items from touching.
- Lower Rack: Best for plates, saucers, bowls, and cookware. Large items should be placed along the edge to avoid blocking the spray arm. Bowls, casseroles, and saucepans should face down or toward the center and be tilted for better drainage. Tall items and pan handles should not block the spray arm.
- Silverware Basket: Items should be mixed with some pointing up and some down to prevent nesting. Small items like baby bottle caps can be secured in covered sections (on some models). Silver and stainless steel should not be mixed to prevent damage.
- Cutlery Tray: For flatware and most cooking/serving utensils. Heavily soiled items should be placed in the upper rack or silverware basket. Separators help keep flatware separated for better cleaning.
Detergent and Rinse Aid:
- Detergent Dispenser: Uses only fresh automatic dishwashing detergent. Tablets can be placed directly in the main wash cup. Detergent should be added just before starting the cycle and stored in a cool, dry place.
- Detergent Dosage: The amount of detergent depends on water hardness, measured in grains per gallon. A chart provides recommended teaspoons for soft, medium hard, and hard water. For very hard water, a water softener is recommended, or additional detergent can be added directly to the tub during the main wash portion of the cycle.
- Rinse Aid Dispenser: Improves drying, reduces water spots, and filming. The dispenser automatically releases a measured amount during the last rinse. The dosage can be adjusted from L0 to L6 by pressing and holding the RINSE ONLY and DELAY START pads. The indicator shows when it's time to refill.
Maintenance Features
Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance and longevity of the dishwasher.
- Outside Cleaning: Wipe occasionally with a mild nonabrasive detergent and water, then rinse and dry.
- Care of Drain Air Gap: If installed, the drain air gap (usually mounted on the countertop) should be checked and cleaned to ensure proper draining. This is not part of the dishwasher and not covered by warranty.
- Cleaning the Cylinder Fine Filter: This filter collects large items like broken glass, bones, and pits. It needs regular cleaning to maximize wash performance. To clean, rotate it counterclockwise, lift it out, empty, and rinse under running water. A sponge or bottle brush may be needed for food residue.
- Cleaning the Coarse Filter: After removing the Cylinder Fine Filter, the Coarse Filter can be removed from the tub bottom, flushed under running water, and replaced.
- Winterizing: If the dishwasher is left in an unheated place, it must be protected from freezing. This involves disconnecting electrical power, shutting off the water supply, draining water from the inlet valve and drain line, and then reconnecting everything when restoring service.
- Removing Spots and Film: Hard water can cause lime deposit buildup, spots, and film. To remove these, load clean dishes (no metal utensils), run a NORMAL cycle without detergent, pause after the second water fill (approx. 10 minutes), pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the tub bottom, and allow the cycle to finish.
The manual also includes a comprehensive "Before You Call" section to help users troubleshoot common issues like food soils left on dishes, dishes not drying, chipped dishware, water in the bottom of the tub, stained or discolored dishware, long cycle times, leaks, etching, detergent left in the dispenser, vapor at the vent, and the dishwasher not running or filling. This section provides solutions for these issues, often related to loading, detergent use, water temperature, water hardness, or cycle selection, aiming to resolve problems without needing service.
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